Question #476

Floaters make knowing the "could be" answers difficult.

Started by shannonk68 · started 2020-07-30 01:06 · last activity 2020-11-12 18:29 · 6 replies

If L is on a floor alone that means it can't go in the middle because H has to be in the floor immediately above I, which means L can't separate the two. This means that the only place for L is Top or Bottom floor. However, because F and S are floaters they can go on any remaining floor, even together because I and H can't be together which means 3 on top, 3 in the middle and 1 on the bottom, or vice versa. Or 4, 2, 1. So how is it possible to make a set determination where floaters "could" go if there are two choices that work? I tried scenarios and I can't figure this out :(

Replies

  1. shunhe · 2020-07-30 15:52

    Hi @shannonk68, Thanks for the question! Yeah, the floaters can definitely be tricky sometimes. For this specific question, however, you’ve actually already taken into account some very important considerations! So as you said, L has to be the top or bottom floor. And then you said there could be 3-3-1 in terms of number of departments distributed to floors. But then you said there could be 4-2-1. Could there be 4-2-1? So remember what has to be true for a 4-2-1 to happen. L is obviously on its own floor. And then P and T have to be on a floor together. But H and I are on different floors too. Which means that P, T, and one of H and I have to be on one floor, and the other of H and I has to be on the other. And then one of S and F has to be on one of those floors, and the other has to be on the remaining. But in this problem, we know that S and F are on the same floor! That means we can’t have 4-2-1. So we know for sure that the numbers to floor ratio are 3-3-1, with P, T, and I/H on one floor; S, F, and H/I on another floor; and L on the last floor. That gets rid of (B), (C), and (E). And we know, as you said, L can’t be on the middle floor, which gets rid of (A). So this one is going to be (C)! And that happens if L is on the top floor, and then the other two floors both have three departments anyway, so the bottom floor has to have three departments. Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.

  2. shannonk68 · 2020-07-30 19:50

    So wait, you say the answer is C but I think you mean the answer is D, because of the 3,3,1 split, right?

  3. shunhe · 2020-07-31 01:24

    Sorry, I meant (D)! My bad, you're completely correct.

  4. shannonk68 · 2020-08-06 01:12

    LOL no worries. I wouldn't have known without your explanation :)

  5. Rozanna · 2020-11-12 16:34

    could someone please explain why we cannot have a 5-1-1 scenario? Here is why I chose answer A: T: FSPTH M: I B: L

  6. Rozanna · 2020-11-12 18:29

    OH i just realized it says 4 maximum. oops!

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